Releasable connection assembly for joining tubing sections

ABSTRACT

A connection assembly for creating a releasable fluid seal connection between two or more sections of tubing includes a male fitting and a female fitting. Connection assemblies generally include the male fitting having a pair of clasps that releasably interact with corresponding catch structures on the female fitting. Interactions between the female and male fittings can be rotatable with respect to the male and/or female fittings. Buckle structures are also disclosed having connection capabilities for a plurality of sections of tubing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/502,325 titled “Releasable Connection Assembly for Joining TubingSections,” filed Sep. 12, 2003, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

a. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of medical devices usedfor the transport of both gaseous and liquid fluids and morespecifically to a connection assembly for creating a releasable fluidseal connection between two or more sections of tubing.

b. Background Art

Tubing sections, for example, medical tubing, must often be joinedtogether to provide for fluid flow from one medical device to another.It is often desirable, therefore, to connect and disconnect tubingsections from one another. For example, when a patient is providedintravenous fluids, it is often required that an empty fluid bag bereplaced with a full fluid bag. It is preferred to merely detach atubing section connected with the fluid bag to a second tubing sectionconnected with the needle or stent placed intravenously in the patient.In order to switch between the first fluid bag and the second fluid bag,the tubing section connected with the first fluid bag can bedisconnected from the second tubing section. The second tubing sectioncan then be easily connected with a tubing section connected with thenew fluid bag. This is much simpler than removing the intravenous stentfrom the patient and replacing it with a new stent directly connectedwith a new the fluid bag.

Against this backdrop the present disclosure is provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is fundamentally a releasable connection systemfor connecting two sections of tubing together. In one embodiment, thereleasable connection assembly for connecting a first section of tubingwith a second section of tubing includes a male fitting furthercomprising a male shaft defining a lumen therethrough, at least oneclasp operably associated therewith; and a female fitting including afemale shaft defining a lumen therethrough, wherein an inner diameter ofthe female shaft is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the maleshaft; and at least one catch is disposed on an outer surface thereoffor interfacing with and releasably retaining the clasp.

Further, in an alternative embodiment, the clasp may be rotatablyconnected to the male shaft, or the catch may be rotatably connected tothe female shaft. In this manner the female fitting and male fitting canbe rotatably engaged.

In another embodiment of the invention, a releasable connection assemblyfor connecting a first section of tubing with a second section of tubingincludes a male fitting further comprising a male shaft defining a lumentherethrough; a pair of clasps disposed on an outer surface thereof; asealing member; and a female fitting further comprising a female shaftdefining a lumen therethrough, wherein an inner diameter of the femaleshaft is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the male shaft; anda pair of catches disposed on an outer surface thereof for interfacingwith and releasably retaining the pair of clasps on the male fittingrespectively; wherein the sealing member engages an inner surface of thefemale shaft to create a fluid-tight seal between the male fitting andthe female fitting.

In a further embodiment, a releasable connection assembly for connectinga plurality of first sections of tubing with a plurality of secondsections of tubing includes a first plate containing at least two malefittings, each male fitting further comprising a male shaft defining alumen therethrough; at least one clasp operably associated with saidfirst plate; and a second plate containing at least two female fittings,each female fitting including a female shaft defining a lumentherethrough, wherein an inner diameter of the female shaft is slightlylarger than the outer diameter of the male shaft; and at least one catchis operably associated with the second plate for interfacing with andreleasably retaining the clasp on the first plate.

Other features, utilities, and advantages of various embodiments of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of embodiments of the invention as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a releasable connection assembly joiningtwo sections of tubing according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a an exploded isometric view of the connection assembly andtubing of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the connection assembly and tubing asindicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the connection assembly of FIG. 1 withthe male fitting and female fitting separated and indicating thedirection of force to be applied to the biased tabs for connection.

FIG. 5 is a representative cross-section of the connection assembly ofthe type depicted in FIG. 1 with the male fitting partially engaged withthe female fitting.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the male fitting of the type depicted inFIG. 1..

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of the male fitting as indicated in FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the female fitting of the type depictedin FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of the female fitting as indicated inFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a releasable connection assembly joiningtwo sections of tubing according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section view of the connection assembly as indicatedin FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the male fitting of the connectionassembly of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a cross-section view of the male fitting as indicated in FIG.12.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the female fitting of the connectionassembly of FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is a cross-section view of the female fitting as indicated inFIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a releasable connection assemblyaccording to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-section view of the connection assembly as indicatedin FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is an exploded isometric view of the male fitting of theconnection assembly of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is in an end plan view of the distal end of the male fitting ofthe connection assembly of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of a releasable connection assembly joiningtwo pairs of two sections of tubing according to another embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 21 is a cross-section view of the connection assembly as indicatedin FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a cross-section view of the connection assembly as indicatedin FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a cross-section view of the connection assembly as indicatedin FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 is an isometric view of a releasable connection assemblyincluding stop-flow valves according to another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a releasable connection assembly asindicated in FIG. 24

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the shut-off valve when theconnection assembly is disconnected.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a connector having a face sealstructure.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the face seal member as indicatedin FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a connector having a rotating collarfor receiving a male fitting.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the rotating collar embodiment asindicated in FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a connector assembly having a fixedreceiving collar to allow at least some rotation of the male connectorportion within the female connector portion.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the fixed receiving collarembodiment as indicated in FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a multi-port assembly connectedtogether using the buckle type structure of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of the buckle type structureembodiment as indicated in FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of a multi-port assembly connectedtogether using another buckle type structure of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of the buckle type structureembodiment as indicated in FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 shows a piercing structure embodiment formed inside theconnecting structure of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a representative embodiment of a disconnected male and femalemember showing the sharp member of the invention used for piercing alumen seal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

A first exemplary releasable connection assembly 1 according to thepresent invention is depicted, either in whole or in part, in FIGS. 1-9.The connection assembly includes two structures, a male fitting 2 and afemale fitting 4. The male fitting 2 is shown in greater detail in FIGS.2, 4, 6, and 7. The female fitting 4 is shown in greater detail in FIGS.2, 4, 8, and 9.

The male fitting 2 connects with the female fitting 4 as best shown incross-section in FIG. 3. A first tubing section 18 connects with a firsttubing coupling 44 (see also FIG. 2) on the distal end of the femalefitting 4, and a second tubing section 20 connects with a second tubingcoupling 54 on the proximal end of the male fitting 2. The orientations“proximal” and “distal” as used herein have been arbitrarily chosen, butwill follow the convention just described with reference to the ends ofthe female fitting 4 and male fitting 2 with the first and second tubingcoupling 44, 54, respectively.

The primary component of the female fitting 4 is a female shaft 6defining a first cylindrical lumen 7. The first tubing coupling 44extends from the distal end of the female shaft 6. The first tubingcoupling 44 includes a cannula portion 46 shaped as a frustum taperingtoward the distal end. The proximal end of the cannula portion 46, i.e.,at the larger diameter of the frustum, connects with a coupling shaft 50of a narrower outer diameter than that of the proximal end of thecannula portion 46. The difference in outer diameters results in anannular shelf that functions as a coupling barb 48. As the couplingshaft 50 extends proximally toward the female shaft 6, the outerdiameter gradually widens into a coupling flange 52 that ultimatelyinterfaces with the distal end of the female shaft 6.

An oblong grip flange 14 may be provided at the distal end of the femaleshaft 6. The narrower diameter of the oblong grip flange 14 may be equalto the outer diameter of the female shaft 6. The wider diameter of theoblong grip flange 14 is then wider than the diameter of the femaleshaft 6 to provide flange extensions on opposite sides of the femaleshaft 6 to provide easy gripping surfaces. Note that flange shapes arenot critical as long as the flange provides an enhance gripping surfacefor the user.

A pair of catches 8 may be formed on opposite sides of the outer surfaceof the female shaft 6 at the proximal end. The catches 8 may further beoriented in positions 90° (or any other functional angles) about thefemale shaft 6 apart from the positions of the wide diameter portions ofthe oblong grip flange 14. Each of the catches 8 may include twotrapezoidal side walls 68, spaced apart from and parallel to each other,and extending generally normally from the outer surface of the femaleshaft 6. An end wall 64 connects the ends of the side walls 68 oppositethe surface of the female shaft 6 to form a slot 10. A retention surface66 may be provided by the distal face of the end wall 64 for aiding theretention of the male fitting 2 as described later herein.

The primary component of the male fitting 2 is a male shaft 22, which inthis first embodiment may be a cylindrical wall defining a secondcylindrical male shaft lumen 23. A first annular recess 24 may be formedin the outer surface of the male shaft 22 adjacent to, but spaced apartfrom the distal end 26 of the male shaft 22. An O-ring 28 may be seatedwithin the first annular recess 24 for creating a fluid-tight seal withthe female fitting 4 as will be further described herein.

The second tubing coupling 54 extends from the proximal end of the maleshaft 22. The second tubing coupling 54 includes a cannula portion 56shaped as a frustum tapering toward the proximal end. The distal end ofthe cannula portion 56, i.e., at the larger diameter of the frustum,connects with a coupling shaft 60 of a narrower outer diameter than thatof the distal end of the cannula portion 56. The difference in outerdiameters results in an annular shelf that functions as a coupling barb58. As the coupling shaft 60 extends distally toward the male shaft 22,the outer diameter gradually widens into a coupling flange 62 thatultimately interfaces with the proximal end of the male shaft 22.

One or more annular grip ribs 16 may also be formed about the outersurface of the proximal end of the male shaft 22. The diameter of eachof the annular grip ribs 16 is larger than the outer diameter of themale shaft 22, thereby providing a good grasping surface for a user. Apair of clasps 12 may each be formed primarily of a tang 30 extendingspaced apart from the male shaft 22 and parallel to the axis of maleshaft 22. The proximal ends of the tangs 30 may form an elbow 31 andconnect with the proximal end of the male shaft 22 at the location ofthe annular grip ribs 16. The annular grip ribs 16 may providereinforcement to the connect of the tangs 30 with the male shaft 22. Thetangs 30 may extend almost the entire length of the male shaft 22. Thedistal ends of the tangs 30 may each be formed with a clasp tab 32protruding in a direction normal to the outer surface of the male shaft22 adjacent the respective clasp 12. The tang 20 distal to the clasp tab32 may have an outer taper 36 and an inner taper 38.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the male fitting 2 and the female fitting 4connect with each other to form the connection assembly 1 by theinsertion of the male shaft 22 into the lumen 7 of the female shaft 6.The connection assembly 1 is further held together by the insertion ofthe tangs 30 of the clasps 12 into the slots 10 of the catches 8 and theinterface between the clasps 12 and the catches 8. Each of the tangs 30of the clasps 12 is attached to the male shaft 22 at the proximal endvia an elbow section 31 extending normally from the outer surface 72 ofthe male shaft 22, but is otherwise separated from the outer surface 72of the male shaft 22 by a slip gap 42. The slip gap 42 provides a spaceto allow the female shaft 6 to slide between the tangs 30 of the clasps12 and the male shaft 22 until it abuts the mating surface 40 of themale shaft 22. The diameter of the inner surface 70 of the female shaft6 defining the first lumen 7 is slightly larger than the diameter of theouter surface 72 of the male shaft 22, allowing for a close fit. TheO-ring 28 on the proximal end 26 of the male shaft 22 is of a largerdiameter than the outer surface 72 of the male shaft 22 and interfaceswith the inner surface 70 of the female shaft 6 to create a fluid-tightseal between the male fitting 2 and the female fitting 4.

The tangs 30 of the clasps 12 are biased in a direction normal to theouter surface 72 of the male shaft 22 (note, however, that the tangs andclasps of the invention may also be non-normal to the outer surface aslong as the interaction is functional). As shown in FIG. 4, the tangs 30must be forced radially inward toward the male shaft 22 in order for thetangs 30 to fit through the slots 10 in the catches 8. This inward forcemay be supplied by the user squeezing the clasps 12 toward each otherwhen inserting the male shaft 22 into the female shaft 6. Alternately,the inward force may be provided by the interaction between the clasps12 and the catches 8 when a user pushes the male fitting 2 and thefemale fitting 4 axially together. In this case, the outer tapers 36 ofthe tangs 30 engage the leading surfaces 65 of the catches 8. As theaxial force is applied to the male fitting 2 and female fitting 4, theouter tapers 36 slide against the leading surfaces 65 and force thetangs 30 to bend radially inward at flex points provided by the elbows31.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inner tapers 38 decrease the required height ofthe catch slot 10 to allow passage of the tangs 30 therethrough, andtherefore, also decrease the amount of flex required of the clasps 12 atthe elbows 31, thereby reducing strain and providing greater resiliencyof the clasps 12. The clasp tabs 32 are pronounced, raised sections ofthe clasps 12 toward the proximal ends of the tangs 30 that create aretention shelf 34 on each of the clasps 12. Once the length of theclasp tabs 32 pass through the catch slots 10, the inward radial forceon the clasps 12 releases and the bias of the clasps 12 forces theclasps 12 radially outward to their original position substantiallyparallel to the male shaft 22. Upon return of the clasps 12 to theiroriginal position, the retention shelves 34 engage the retention surface66 of the catches 8, thereby preventing the male fitting 2 from beingpulled apart from the female fitting 4. In order to release the malefitting 2 from the female fitting 4, the user must push the clasps 12radially inward to disengage the retention shelves 34 from the retentionsurfaces 66 of the catches 8. The user can then apply an axial pullingforce to the male fitting 2 and female fitting 4 to separate the twoportions of the connection assembly 1.

As shown in FIG. 1 and 3-5, the female fitting 4 is connected with thefirst tubing section 18 via the first tubing coupling 44. The user maypush one end of the first tubing section 18, which is generally apliable, elastomeric material, over the cannula 46 of the first tubingcoupling 44. The gradually increasing taper of the cannula 46 expandsthe diameter of the first tubing section 18. The first tubing section 18then passes over a narrower coupling shaft 50 of the first tubingcoupling 44, which allows the diameter of the first tubing section 18 toconstrict toward its original diameter size. The first tubing coupling44 then expands in diameter again to form a coupling shaft flange 52against which the inner surface of the first tubing 18 section snuglyfits. The interface between the cannula 46 and the coupling shaft 50forms a coupling barb 48 that acts to resist the disengagement of thefirst tubing section 18 from the first tubing coupling 44. The couplingshaft flange 52 aids in this resistance by pinching the first tubingsection 18 against the coupling shaft 50 and the coupling barb 48.

Similarly, the male fitting 2 is connected with the second tubingsection 20 via the second tubing coupling 54. The user may push one endof the second tubing section 20, which is generally a pliable,elastomeric material, over the cannula 56 of the second tubing coupling54. The gradually increasing taper of the cannula 56 expands thediameter of the second tubing section 20. The second tubing section 20then passes over a narrower coupling shaft 60 section of the secondtubing coupling 54, which allows the diameter of the second tubingsection 20 to constrict toward its original diameter size. The secondtubing coupling 54 then expands in diameter again to form a couplingshaft flange 62 against which the inner surface of the second tubingsection 20 snugly fits. The interface between the cannula 56 and thecoupling shaft 60 forms a coupling barb 58 that acts to resist thedisengagement of the second tubing section 20 from the second tubingcoupling 54. The coupling shaft flange 62 aids in this resistance bypinching the second tubing section 20 against the coupling shaft 60 andthe coupling barb 58. Note that other attachment means between thetubing and male fitting are also envisioned to be within the scope ofthe present invention.

Preferably, the inner diameters of the first tubing section 18, thesecond tubing section 20, the first tubing coupling 44, the secondtubing coupling 54, and the male shaft 22 are all of generally the samediameter to provide for generally constant fluid flow rate, pressure,and volume throughout the connection assembly 1. However, if a change inpressure, flow rate, or flow volume were desired, the diameters of eachof these sections could be designed to achieve a desired result.

FIGS. 6 and 7 provide a detailed view of the male member 2 uncoupled ordisconnected from the female member 4. Note the position of the O-ring28 within a groove 24 defined around the male shaft 22. FIGS. 8 and 9provide a detailed view of the female member 4 uncoupled or disconnectedfrom the male member 2.

In another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 10-15, analternative fluid seal design may be used. Instead of an O-ring 28 onthe exterior surface of the male shaft 22 as, for example, depicted inFIGS. 3-4, and 7 the male fitting 2 is formed with a thick walled maleshaft 22 with a tapered inner surface 74 defining the male shaft lumen23 on the distal end of the male shaft 22. Correspondingly, a taperedcannula 76 is formed within the female shaft lumen 7 of the femalefitting 4 toward the distal end. The tapered cannula 76 is designed tointerface with the tapered inner surface 74 of the male shaft 22 tocreate a fluid-tight seal or face seal when the male fitting 2 and thefemale fitting 4 are connected with each other. See FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 provides a cross-sectional view along line 13-13 of FIG. 12illustrating the tapered inner surface 74 of the male shaft 22. FIG. 15provides a cross-sectional view along line 15-15 of FIG. 14 illustratingthe tapered cannula 76 formed within the female shaft lumen 7. Thefrictional engagement between tapered inner surface 74 and the taperedcannula 76 provides a fluid-tight seal (see FIG. 11).

In another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 16-19, theclasps 12 are not integrally formed with the male fitting 2, but areinstead integral with a collar 78 that may itself be rotationallyattached to the male shaft 22. The collar 78 joins the elbows 31 of theclasps 12. The diameter of the collar 78 is smaller than the separationof the tangs 30 of the clasps 12. The interior surface of the collar 78defines a collar lumen 84 into which four detents 82 may radially extend(see FIG. 19). The collar lumen 84 is slightly larger in diameter thanthe outer diameter of the male shaft 22, while the projection of thedetents 82 extend a distance such that the diameter between opposingdetents 82 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the male shaft22. A second annular recess 80 may be formed in the exterior surface ofthe male shaft 22 adjacent to and distal to the annular grip ribs 16.The detents 82 are snapped into the second annular recess 80 when thecollar 78 is pushed axially along the male shaft 22 and into place.

The proximal end of the female shaft 6 may interface with a collarmating surface 41 rather than the proximal mating surface 40 of thefirst embodiment as shown in at least FIGS. 2 and 3. The detents 82 areflexible enough to bend when forced against the outer surface of themale shaft 2, but are biased to return to their original radialpositions when engaged in the second annular recess 80, therebyretaining the collar 78 and clasps 12 on the male shaft 22. Because theclasps 12 are not integrally formed with the male shaft 22 in thisembodiment, the collar 78 and the connected clasps 12 are free to rotateabout the male shaft 22. This configuration allows the male fitting 2and the female fitting 4 to rotate axially with respect to each other toprovide increased flexibility of the connection assembly 1.

Another embodiment of a connection assembly 100 is shown in FIGS. 20-23for connecting two sets of two tubing sections 118 a, 118 b, 120 a, and120 b. In this embodiment, a male fitting 102 includes a first maleshaft 122 a and a second male shaft 122 b connected with each other atthe proximal end by a pair of grip ribs 116, but otherwise spaced apartfrom each other by interior gap 141 (see FIG. 21). The grip ribs 116 areannular flanges about the outer surfaces of each of the first male shaft122 a and the second male shaft 122 b that are integrally connected witheach other to form a figure-8 span holding the first male shaft 122 aand the second male shaft 122 b together. A female fitting 104 includesa first female shaft 106 a and a second female shaft 106 b that arejoined together along the length of their exterior surfaces. A gripflange 114 is also formed as a contiguous figure-8 about the exteriorsurface of the distal ends of the first female shaft 106 a and thesecond female shaft 106 b. The catches 108 are attached to the exteriorsurfaces of both the first female shaft 106 a and the second femaleshaft 106 b. A first side wall 168 a of each of the catches 108 isattached to the first female shaft 106 a and a second side wall 168 b ofeach of the catches 108 is attached to the second female shaft 106 b(see FIG. 23).

Still referring to FIGS. 20-23, the first male shaft 122 a and thesecond male shaft 122 b slide within the first female shaft 106 a andthe second female shaft 106 b, respectively, just as in the firstembodiment described herein with respect to FIGS. 1-9. As depicted inFIG. 21, the first male shaft 122 a and the second male shaft 122 b maycreate a fluid-tight seal with the first female shaft 106 a and thesecond female shaft 106 b, respectively, by seating a first O-ring 128 abetween the inner surface of the first female shaft 106 a and the outersurface of the first male shaft 122 a and similarly by seating a secondO-ring 128 b between the inner surface of the second female shaft 106 band the outer surface of the second male shaft 122 b. Alternatively, afluid-tight seal could be provided using cannulas and tapered lumeninterfaces as described herein with respect to FIGS. 10-15. As in thefirst embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, the clasps 112 engage with and areretained by the catches 108 to actively hold the male fitting 102 andfemale fitting 104 together. The male fitting 102 may be released fromretention by the female fitting 104 by forcing the clasps 112 radiallyinward to disengage the clasp tabs 132 from the retention surfaces 166and pulling the male fitting 102 and the female fitting 104 apart.

It should be apparent that additional male and female fittings could beintegrated together to form connection assemblies for connecting three,four, or more sets of tubing sections. The male and female fittingscould be integrated together side by side to lie in a single plane, orstacked upon each other to form triangular, square, pentagonal, or otherformations and arrangements. In addition, embodiments of the presentinvention may include one, three, seven or any number of clasps orcatches. Note also that there could be a greater number of clasps ofcatches within any one embodiment to allow for adjustable rotatableorientation of connections.

Another embodiment of a releasable connection assembly 201 is shown inFIGS. 24-26. In this embodiment, the male fitting 202 and the femalefitting 204 are each provided with shut-off valves 284, 286respectively, to halt fluid flow from the sections of tubing 205 and 207when the male fitting 202 and the female fitting 204 are disengaged fromeach other. The male fitting 202 has a first shut-off valve 284 arrangedwithin the lumen 223 of the male shaft 222. Similarly, the femalefitting 204 has a second shut-off valve 286 arranged within the lumen207 of the female shaft 206.

The male fitting shut-off valve 284 is constructed primarily of a firstvalve body 285 and a first spring 288. The first valve body 285 ispositioned toward the distal end of the male shaft 222. The distal endof the first spring 288 is connected with the proximal end of the firstvalve body 285 while the proximal end of the first spring 288 isconnected with a first cap 302 that fixedly interfaces with the proximalend of the male shaft 222 to provide a stationary anchor for the firstspring 288. The first cap 302 also tapers proximally to form a firstfluid port 304 extending into a lumen defined by the second tubingcoupling 254. Rather than being integrally formed with the male fitting202, in this embodiment the first cap 302 may be directly attached tothe male shaft 222 or it may be sandwiched between the second tubingcoupling 254 and the male shaft 222. In the latter case, the first cap302 may be fastened to the proximal end of the male shaft 222 by meansof, but not limited to, welding, adhesive, snap-fit or over-molding, toallow for the prior insertion of the first shut-off valve 284 duringassembly of the male fitting 202.

The distal end of the lumen 223 in the male shaft 222 tapers slightly toreduce the diameter of the lumen 223 at the distal end of the male shaft222. The diameter of the first valve body 285 is slightly smaller thanthe diameter of the lumen 223 distal from the male tapered portion 296.The proximal end of the first valve body 285 is also encompassed by afirst valve O-ring 290, which is slightly smaller in diameter than thelumen 223 proximal to the male tapered portion 296. The distal end ofthe first valve body 285 defines first valve flues 294 separated byfirst valve collar supports 292, which support a first valve collar 298.A first valve peak 300 is also defined by the distal end of the firstvalve body 285 and is centered between the first valve collar supports292. The peak 300 is a flow diverter. The first valve flues 294 allowfluid to flow therethrough and are provided to allow fluid to flowbetween the proximal end of the first valve body 285 and a lumen in thefirst valve collar 298.

Similarly, the female fitting shut-off valve 286 is constructedprimarily of a second valve body 287 and a second spring 289. The secondvalve body 287 is positioned toward the proximal end of the female shaft206. The proximal end of the second spring 289 is connected with thedistal end of the second valve body 287 while the distal end of thesecond spring 289 is connected with a second cap 303 that fixedlyinterfaces with the distal end of the female shaft 206 to provide astationary anchor for the second spring 289. The second cap 303 alsotapers distally to form a second fluid port 305 extending into a lumendefined by the first tubing coupling 244. Rather than being integrallyformed with the female fitting 204, in this embodiment the second cap303 may be directly attached to the female shaft 206 or it may besandwiched between the first tubing coupling 244 and the female shaft206. In the latter case, the second cap 303 may be either snap-fitted orover-molded about the distal end of the female shaft 206, to allow forthe prior insertion of the second shut-off valve 286 during assembly ofthe female fitting 204.

The proximal end of the female fitting lumen 207 in the female shaft 206tapers slightly to reduce the diameter of the lumen 207 at the proximalend of the female shaft 206. The diameter of the second valve body 287is slightly smaller than the diameter of the lumen 207 proximal from thefemale tapered portion 297. The distal end of the second valve body 287is also encompassed by a second valve O-ring 291, which is slightlysmaller in diameter than the lumen 207 distal to the female taperedportion 297. The proximal end of the second valve body 287 definessecond valve flues 295 separated by second valve collar supports 293,which support a second valve collar 299. A second valve peak 301 is alsodefined by the proximal end of the second valve body 287 and is centeredbetween the second valve collar supports 293. The peak 301 is a flowdiverter. The second valve flues 295 allow fluid to flow therethroughand are provided to allow fluid to flow between the distal end of thesecond valve body 287 and a lumen in the second valve collar 299. (Seearrow 307 for path of fluid through assembly).

Referring to FIG. 26, when the male fitting 202 is disengaged from thefemale fitting 204, the first spring 288 forces the first valve body 285to move distally within the lumen 223 of the male shaft 222. The distalend of the first valve body 285, primarily the first valve collar 298,extends distally out of the lumen 223 past the distal end of the maleshaft 222. The distal movement of the first valve body 285 is halted bythe engagement of the first valve O-ring 290 with the male taperedportion 296. This engagement creates a fluid-tight seal between thefirst shut-off valve 284 and the male shaft 222 preventing fluid leakagefrom a tubing section connected with the second tubing coupling 254 onthe male fitting 202.

Similarly, when the female fitting 204 is disengaged from the malefitting 202, the second spring 289 forces the second valve body 287 tomove proximally within the lumen 207 of the female shaft 206. Theproximal end of the second valve body 285, primarily the second valvecollar 299, extends proximally out of the lumen 207 past the proximalend of the female shaft 206. The proximal movement of the second valvebody 287 is halted by the engagement of the second valve O-ring 291 withthe female tapered portion 297. This engagement creates a fluid-tightseal between the second shut-off valve 286 and the female shaft 206preventing fluid leakage from a tubing section connected with the firsttubing coupling 244 on the female fitting 204.

As shown in FIG. 25, when the male fitting 202 and the female fitting204 are connected with each other, the first valve collar 298 and thesecond valve collar 299 interface. The first valve body 285 is therebyforced proximally within the male shaft 222 and the first valve O-ring290 disengages from the male tapered portion 296 allowing fluid to flowpast the first valve body 285, through the first valve flues 294,between the first valve collar supports 292, and out the lumen definedby the first valve collar 298. Likewise, the second valve body 287 isthereby forced distally within the female shaft 206 and the second valveO-ring 290 disengages from the female tapered portion 297 allowing fluidto flow past the second valve body 287, through the second valve flues295, between the second valve collar supports 293, and out the lumendefined by the second valve collar 299. In this manner, the male fitting202 can be connected with the female fitting 204 and automaticallyinstantiate fluid flow through the connection assembly 201. Note thatinteraction between the clasps 12 and catches 8 are substantially thesame as described above.

FIGS. 27 and 28 show another embodiment of the present invention where aconnector structure having a face seal, instead of a circumferentialO-ring seal, between the male and female portions is used. A seal member300, preferably an 0-shape such as an O-ring or an O-ring having asquare or rectangular cross section, is pinched or compressed betweenthe terminal end 302 of the male fitting 304 and the internal baseregion 306 of the female fitting 308 when the male 304 and femalefittings 308 are connected together. The retention shelf 310 on the tang312 and the retention surface 314 on the catch 316 are designed toengage so that the space between the terminal end 302 of the malefitting 304 and the internal base region 306 of the female fitting 308is less than the thickness of the face seal member 300. This dimensionalconflict causes the terminal end 302 of the male fitting 304 to compressthe face seal against the internal base region 306 of the female fitting308, thereby creating a face seal, instead of a circumferential seal asis formed with an o-ring. The face seal member 300 may have an outerdimension sufficient to retain the face seal member within the femalefitting when not held in place by the terminal end 302 of the malefitting. Both a circumferential seal and a face seal may be combined ifdesired. Note that structures not discussed as shown in previousembodiments and are left off to maximize detail of the presentembodiment.

FIGS. 29 and 30 show a connection structure 320 of the present inventionwhere the male (not shown) and female 321 portions can rotate relativeto one another when in the engaged position. A catch structure 324 inthis embodiment is formed with a collar 328, which fits over and isrotatably connected to the female connector portion 324. The femaleportion 324 of the connector 320 defines an annular groove 330 near theoblong grip flange 332. The collar 328 defines at least one protrusion334 extending radially inwardly at the end of the collar 328 thatoverlaps the annular groove 330 when the collar is positioned on thefemale portion 324. The protrusion 334 extends into the annular groove330 to keep the collar axially positioned on the female portion whileallowing it to rotate therearound. The at least one protrusion canextend for a length at least partially circumferentially around theinside of the collar; there may be more than one such protrusion. Eachprotrusion may have a ramp, or sloped, shape to facilitate pushing thecollar over the female portion more easily, but still sufficientlyretaining the collar on the female portion.

When the male portion (not shown) is connected to the female portion324, the tangs fit into and engage the catch 338 to hold the two piecestogether. The two pieces may then rotate with respect to one anotherwhile maintaining engagement. When rotated, the tangs 336 cause thecollar 328 to rotate around the female portion 324.

FIGS. 31 and 32 show a structure 338 that allows rotation of the male340 and female 342 portions of the connection structure 338 relative toone another. In this embodiment, a catch 344 is formed as acircumferential collar 346 spaced around the female portion 346 by atleast one rib 348. More than one rib 348 may be used, but the amount ofrotation allowed would be reduced. The male portion 340 and the tangs350 can rotate while engaged with the collar 346 to the point ofcontacting one of the support ribs 348 that supports and spaces thecollar 346 around the female portion 342. The collar 346 may also beformed as a shroud attached at the end away from the male portion, witha slot formed circumferentially therein to allow the tangs and the maleportion to rotate relative to the female portion (not shown). In thisembodiment, the rotation would be limited by the ends of the grooveformed in the collar.

FIGS. 33 and 34 show another embodiment of the present invention, wherea gang of tube connectors 352 are held in engagement by a bucklestructure 354. In FIG. 33, 6 female connector portions 356 are formed ina plate 358, three on each side of the catch structure 360. The catchstructure 360 includes two clasp slots 362, each for receiving the clasptab 364 and retention shelf 366 formed on each tang 368. The lower plate370 forms six corresponding male connector portions 372 for receipt inrespective female portions 356. As the male portions 372 are received inthe respective female portions 356, the tangs 368 enter the catchstructure 360 and insert through the clasp slots 362, respectively, toengage the catch structure 360 and retain the male portions 372 inconnection with the female portions 356. In this embodiment, the tangs368 extend from the plate 370 with the male portions 372, and the catchstructure 360 is on the plate 374 with the female portions 356. Thiscould be reversed if desired.

Any number of connection structure portions 356, 372 could be held inengagement by this embodiment, and more than one buckle structure 354could be used to sufficiently hold the plates 370, 374 together, andthus the respective connector portions together. The male and femaleconnector portions 356, 372 may be arranged to allow only oneorientation of engagement between the gang of female connector portionsand male connector portions. The catch 360 and tangs 368 are showndesigned to engage near the periphery of the upper plate 374, whichallows more convenient grasping by the user. The catch 360 and tangs 368may also be designed to engage at a location away from the periphery ifso desired.

FIGS. 35 and 36 show a gang of 10 female connector portions 356 on theupper plate 374 and 10 male connector portions 372 on the lower plate370. The connection structure is similar to that shown in FIGS. 33 and34. Note also that other numbers of female and male portions may beincluded in the gang, dependent on the plate size and needs or the user.

In another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the connectionstructure 376 of the present invention allows piercing, when the twoportions are connected, of a seal 382 formed either on the male 378 orfemale 380 connector portion. A tape seal or the like seal is formedover the female portion to preclude flow of a liquid therethrough, andthe tape seal is punctured by a sharp 383 when the male portion 378 isinserted in to the female portion 380.

As shown in FIG. 37, the female portion 380 has a sharp 383 formedtherein that extends into and through the lumen 384 of the male shaft386. The extension of the sharp 383 into the lumen 384 pierces any typeof seal 382 formed over the lumen 384, whether it be a tape seal, aplastic seal, or other type of diaphragm structure sealing the end ofthe lumen.

FIG. 38 shows the sharp 383 as a pointed structure formed within thechannel inside the female connector portion 380. The sharp 383 may befixed within the female portion, and used to puncture the seal 382 overthe lumen of the male shaft upon connection of the male and femaleconnector portions. The female portion would then be open at all times.

The sharp 383 can also be movably positioned in the channel 385 of thefemale portion 380. This allows the base 388 of the sharp member 383 toseal the channel of the female portion when not connected to a maleportion. The sharp member 383 is biased into the sealed position by aspring 390. When connected with the male connector portion 378 and themale shaft 386 is inserted, the end of the sharp member 383 puncturesthe seal 382 on the lumen 384 of the male shaft 386, and the terminalend of the male shaft pushes on a collar or flange 392 formed near thesharp end 394 of the sharp member 383 to push the sharp out of a sealedengagement in the female end, opening up flow.

FIG. 37 further shows the sharp member 383 piercing the seal 382, andprior to the terminal end of the male shaft pushing the sharp memberrearwardly. The fluid flows around or through particular portions of thesharp member 383. As contemplated herein, the sharp member 383 can beneedle-like, or have a pyramidal shape with a pointed top, or can besimply sufficiently shaped to puncture the seal layer over the lumen.While shown here with the piercing sharp positioned in the femaleconnector portion, with some structural modification the piercing sharpcould also be in the male portion, having the same function describedabove.

As used herein, lumen refers not only to its definition, but also refersto an opening, aperture, or other passageway. The fluid referred toherein can be gaseous, liquid, or other state of material that isflowable through a tube (i.e. granular). The connector structuresdescribed above can be used with one clasp and one catch, or multipleclasps and catches. While generally described above as sealed whenconnected together, the connector structures may be sealed or unsealed.

The connection between the male and female connector portions and theirrespective tube sections can be by means other than a barbed fitting,such as, but not limited to threaded, press-fit without a barb, JohnGuest fitting, ferrule, and panel mount.

Although various embodiments of this invention have been described abovewith a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or moreindividual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerousalterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of this invention. It is intended that all mattercontained in the above description and shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only of particularembodiments and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be madewithout departing from the basic elements of the invention as defined inthe following claims.

1. A releasable connection assembly for connecting a first section oftubing with a second section of tubing, the assembly comprising: a malefitting comprising: a male shaft defining a lumen therethrough; a pairof clasps disposed on an outer surface thereof; and a sealing member;and a female fitting comprising: a female shaft defining a lumentherethrough, wherein an inner diameter of the female shaft is slightlylarger than the outer diameter of the male shaft; and a pair of catchesdisposed on an outer surface thereof for interfacing with and releasablyretaining the pair of clasps respectively; wherein the sealing memberengages an inner surface of the female shaft to create a fluid-tightseal between the male fitting and the female fitting.
 2. The releasableconnection assembly of claim 1, wherein the male fitting furthercomprises a first coupling for connecting the male fitting with a firstsection of tubing.
 3. The releasable connection assembly of claim 1,wherein the female fitting further comprises a second coupling forconnecting the female fitting with a second section of tubing.
 4. Thereleasable connection assembly of claim 1, wherein said clasps arerotatable with respect to the male shaft.
 5. The releasable connectionassembly of claim 1, wherein said catches are rotatable with respect tothe female shaft.
 6. The releasable connection assembly of claim 5wherein said clasps are rotatable with respect to the male shaft.
 7. Thereleasable connection assembly for connecting a first section of tubingwith a second section of tubing, the assembly comprising: a male fittingcomprising: a male shaft defining a lumen therethrough; at least oneclasp operably associated therewith; and a female fitting including afemale shaft defining a lumen therethrough, wherein an inner diameter ofthe female shaft is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the maleshaft; and at least one catch is disposed on an outer surface thereoffor interfacing with and releasably retaining the clasp.
 8. Thereleasable connection assembly of claim 7, wherein said clasp isrotatably connected to said male shaft.
 9. The releasable connectionassembly of claim 7, wherein said catch is rotatably connected to saidfemale shaft.
 10. The releasable connection assembly of claim 7, whereinsaid female shaft and said male shaft fit together to form a sealedengagement.
 11. The releasable connection assembly of claim 10, whereinsaid female shaft includes a tapered cannula and said male shaftincludes a tapered internal diameter, said cannula and said internaldiameter engaging to form a seal.
 12. The releasable connection assemblyof claim 7, wherein said male shaft has a seal formed over said lumen;said female shaft includes a sharp; and wherein when said connectionassembly is assembled, said sharp pierces said seal.
 13. The releasableconnection assembly of claim 7, wherein said female shaft has a sealformed over said lumen; said male shaft includes a sharp; and whereinwhen said connection assembly is assembled, said sharp pierces saidseal.
 14. The releasable connection assembly of claim 7, wherein saidcatch has an at least partial circumferentially extending engagementsurface with said clasp formed therein to allow said clasp to rotatealong said surface.
 15. The releasable connection assembly of claim 14,wherein said catch is a shroud, and said engagement surface is a slot.16. The releasable connection assembly for connecting a plurality offirst sections of tubing with a plurality of second sections of tubing,the assembly comprising: a first plate containing at least two malefittings, each male fitting further comprising: a male shaft defining alumen therethrough; at least one clasp operably associated with saidfirst plate; and a second plate containing at least two female fittings,each female fitting including a female shaft defining a lumentherethrough, wherein an inner diameter of the female shaft is slightlylarger than the outer diameter of the male shaft; and at least one catchis operably associated with the second plate for interfacing with andreleasably retaining the clasp on the first plate.
 17. The releasableconnection assembly of claim 15, wherein the first plate contains 6 malefittings and the second plate contains 6 female fittings.
 18. Thereleasable connection assembly of claim 15, wherein the first platecontains 10 male fittings and the second plate contains 10 femalefittings.
 19. The releasable connection assembly of claim 15, whereinsaid at least one clasp defines a tang for a retainment in said catch.20. The releasable connection assembly for connecting a first section oftubing with a second section of tubing, the assembly comprising: a malefitting comprising: a male shaft defining a lumen therethrough; a firstshut-off valve housed within the lumen for preventing fluid flow throughthe lumen when in a closed position; a female fitting comprising: afemale shaft defining a lumen therethrough; a second shut-off valvehoused within the lumen for preventing fluid flow through the lumen whenin a closed position; and wherein the first and second shut-off valvesare in an open position when the male and female fittings areoperatively associated and in the closed position when the male andfemale fittings are not operatively associated.